Old Testament Scripture Reading: 2Kings 7:3 – 9 (KJV)
I2Ki 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
2Ki 7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
2Ki 7:5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
2Ki 7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
2Ki 7:7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
2Ki 7:8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
2Ki 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1Corinthians 1:18 – 25 (KJV)
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) This account of these four “Leprous men” is a mild illustration of the love of God toward ungodly sinners who are “unclean” in His sight; yet God in His boundless mercy still chooses to provide for the ones who fully understand the depth of their total sinfulness and rely totally on the Goodness of the love of God for their salvation, who also understand that this NEWS (Gospel) IS TOO GOOD TO KEEP TO YOURSELVES!
2) ) The future glory of the provision of God, (that is the giving of Jesus His Only-begotten Son) is symbolized or implied in many Old Testament portions of Scripture to illustrate the ULTIMATE PROVISION OF GOD which is fully revealed in the New Testament: that is the Cross of JESUS CHRIST; for the purpose of having believers (as DISCIPLES) come to an understanding of the depth of the love of God toward the ones who believe HIS GOSPEL and trust completely in HIS PROVISION, not human works!
3) Even though mankind can and granted has accomplished many great and magnificent things, all together there are none who have defeated DEATH and the GRAVE EXCEPT JESUS The CHRIST! Therefore, we shall benefit more from investing ourselves in meditating on the Cross of Christ than by any other means; because even the foolishness of God is WISER than men!